A sensory room is “a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that provides students with special needs with personalized sensory input” (Ray, 2017). Some of the equipment you would find in a sensory room include platform swings, trampolines, bouncing balls, whiteboard, carpet, battle ropes, scooter boards, sensory bins, mirrors, bubbles, body socks, etc. There are many benefits of having a sensory room, especially for those “sensory seekers” (sensory processing disorder) who are constantly stimming (Blanner, 2019). This room gives them a safe place to integrate more sensory stimulation into their daily lives to help them learn self-regulation. Not only do those with a sensory processing disorder benefit from a sensory but all students with and without disabilities can benefit from a place where they can regulate themselves and renew focus (Blanner, 2019). The main benefits for a sensory room include sensory stimulation, enhances learning through play, improved balance, movement, and spatial orientation, and tackles problems with behavior by giving the student a safe space to regulate, calm down, and refocus (Jones, 2019).

Sensory Room Blog: https://www.edutopia.org/article/sensory-room-101-betty-ray

Sensory walls are exactly what they sound like. A wall with sensory-based items that engage students in calming activities or sensory integration play (“Sensory Wall Panels”, n.d.). These can be implemented in sensory rooms, classrooms, bedrooms, or wherever space is available. The sensory hallway can include tactile, auditory, and visual experiences to explore. These sensory walls help students with self-regulation and social skills inside and outside the classroom during wait times. The wall can include keyboards to tap, boards with rocks, peg boards, field turf, magnet boards, and many more ideas that can be found online especially Pinterest (Kent, 2018). Sensory walls also give students the flexibility to choose which area they want to visit and focus on before going back to class to learn more.

Sensory Walls Article:

• http://www.therepublic.com/2018/09/10/learning_while_waiting_sensory_integration_wall_teaches_skills_in_the_hallway/

Both sensory walls and rooms are sensory-based intervention just like a sensory hallway is. As the popularity for these sensory hallways continues to grow, so will the amount of research done on these pathways. For now, sensory rooms and walls provide plenty of information on how beneficial these types of sensory-based interventions can be. Students can learn self-regulation, emotional stability, and can diminish unwanted behaviors through sensory play.